Religious Festivals

Timkat, or the Epiphany, is the most important celebration of the ethiopian orthodox
Church, and takes place on January 18th and 19th. Easter is observed usually a week later
than when the Gregorian calendar dectates.

The most important Muslim festival is Ramadan, which takes place on the ninth month of
the lunar year, according to the Islamic calendar. Ramadan marks the end of a month long
fast, which services to remind people of how the Koran was revealed to the Prophet
Mohammed. The period of feasting and celebration after the fast is known as Id-al-fitir.The
Islamic New Year celebrate Mohmmed's flight from Mecca, and follows the fast of
Ramadan. The birthday of the prophet Mohammed is also celebrated as christmas on the
twelfth night of the first lunar month. These celebrations bring together friends and families
all over the country. In these celebrations you may find people dancing the Eskista which is
a folklore dance from Amhara.

Moslem expansion into Ethiopia began in the 12th Century as a number of independent
trading kingdoms grew up along the Red Sea coast. The expansion the islamic empire
surrounded Ethiopia with Moslem-dominated countries.
By 700 AD the Ethiopians were cut off from the rest of the christian world. However, the
Islamic armies never conquered the predominantly christian highland people.
Approximately 50% of the population are muslims.